Snag-resistant fishing lure and methods of making and using

Abstract

The snag-resistant fishing lure is designed to minimize the chances of the lure becoming ensnared. The lure has a jig and a blade attached to the blade in a configuration that limits the side-to-side movement of the blade, thereby preventing the jig from rolling to a hook-downward position prone to snagging. A centrally aligned hole is positioned close to the front edge of the blade member. An eyelet extending from the jig body is attached through an aperture in the blade. The blade is limited in its side-to-side movement by contact between the blade edge and either the jig body or the eyelet. The limited side-to-side movement of the blade creates a quick, controlled, oscillating blade action that imparts a natural swimming motion to the lure, emulating prey species movements.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fishing lure comprising:
 a hook, the hook including a shank having a first width; 
 a jig body having a second width, a forward portion, and a longitudinal axis, the body secured around and encircling the shank, the first and second widths extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jig body and the second width being greater than the first width; 
 a curved wire extending from the forward portion of the body; and 
 a blade having a first edge located proximate the forward portion of the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole proximate the first edge, the positioning of a portion of the curved wire through the mounting hole attaching the blade to the body; 
 wherein, as the lure is pulled through the water, a majority of the blade is oriented above the body and the lure exhibits a vibrating action as the blade is moved from side to side, the movement of the blade being limited by the first edge striking one of at the body or at another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The fishing lure of  claim 1 , wherein the blade is generally polygonal. 
     
     
       3. The fishing lure of  claim 2 , wherein the blade defines an end opposite the first edge, the blade being bent near the end thereof. 
     
     
       4. The fishing lure of  claim 2 , wherein the blade has the shape of an elongated hexagon. 
     
     
       5. The fishing lure of  claim 4 , wherein the blade has a second edge opposite the first edge, the first edge of the blade defining a first width and the second edge defining a second width smaller than the first width. 
     
     
       6. The fishing lure of  claim 1 , wherein the blade has an arcuate edge. 
     
     
       7. The fishing lure of  claim 1 , wherein the blade further defines therethrough a pair of line attachment holes spaced apart from the mounting hole, and wherein the lure further comprises a fastener for securing a fishing line to the blade. 
     
     
       8. The fishing lure of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is a center axis of the jig body and the shank extends rearwardly from the body along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       9. The fishing lure of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrating action of the blade creates an underwater acoustic wave propagation. 
     
     
       10. A method of producing a snag-resistant fishing lure, the method comprising:
 providing a body having a forward end and a longitudinal center axis, the body further comprising a curved wire extending from the forward end and a hook extending rearwardly from the body along the longitudinal center axis, the hook having a shank, the body fixedly secured around and encircling the shank along the longitudinal center axis of the body; 
 providing a blade for attachment to the body, the blade having first edge proximate the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole proximate the first edge; 
 positioning a portion of the curved wire through the mounting hole to attach the blade to the body, such that, as the lure is retrieved, a majority of the blade is oriented above the body and the blade exhibits a side-to-side movement relative to the body: the movement being limited by the first edge striking one of at the body or at another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body is a weighted jig body having a first width and the shank of the hook has a second width, the widths are perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis and the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hook is fixed within the body. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the blade with a polygonal shape. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polygonal shape is a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polygonal shape is an elongated hexagonal shape having the first edge as one side and a second edge opposite the first edge as another side, the first edge defining a first width and the second edge defining a second width smaller than the first width. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising bending the blade. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the blade with a pair of line attachment holes therethrough and positioning a fastener through the line attachment holes. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the curved wire defines a cross-sectional diameter and wherein the method further comprises providing the mounting hole in the blade slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the curved wire. 
     
     
       19. A method of fishing, the method comprising:
 securing a fishing lure to a fishing line, the fishing lure comprising a jig body; a hook, the hook having a shank with a first width and the jig body having a second width, a forward end, and a longitudinal axis wherein the first and second widths are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the second width is greater than the first width, wherein the jig body is immovably secured to and encircling the shank of the hook; a curved wire extending from the forward end of the body; and a blade having a first edge located proximate the body and defining therethrough a mounting hole, a portion of the curved wire being positioned through the mounting hole, the blade further having a pair of line attachment holes to which the fishing line is secured; and 
 pulling the lure through the water, the pulling of the lure resulting in a majority of the blade being oriented above the body and the lure exhibiting a vibrating action as the blade is moved from side to side, the movement of the blade being limited by the first edge striking one of at the body or at another portion of the curved wire opposite the portion of the curved wire positioned through the mounting hole. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fishing line is secured by a fastener.